Saturday, June 30, 2012

Met. Paul Yazigi on Saints Peter and Paul

As is well known, the classic icon for this blessed feast
portrays the two holy apostles embracing and kissing each other. This apostolic
kiss is has been explained by many people in various ways. For some, this kiss
means the reconciliation of the two apostles after they had disagreed in
Antioch. For others, this kiss represents the meeting of the East (represented
by the Apostle Paul) and the West (represented by the Apostle Peter). Yet
others see in it a symbol of the fate shared by the two apostles who were
martyred in Rome, the first by beheading and the second by being crucified like
his Teacher.

However much these theories vary in precision, some of them—especially
the last—offer a sound and constructive solution. In any case, it is clear that
the two apostles represent two distinct worlds, or to put it better, they
present to us two very important biblical personalities. Each enjoyed
particular virtues with which they especially shined.

The Apostle Paul was especially distinguished by a trio of
virtues and the Apostle Peter was equally endowed with another trio of virtues.

Starting with the Apostle Paul, we easily notice through the
texts of the New Testament that the Apostle Paul was distinguished by three
characteristics that fundamentally helped him in the success of his mission and
labors.

1- He was a Roman citizen. This meant that he possessed
unique civil and political rights. He repeatedly took advantage of them
whenever the need arose for this. For example, we can point to the incident of
his being freed from the jail in Philippi once he announced that he was a Roman
citizen.

2- The Apostle Paul was adept in Greek language and
philosophy. For this reason God saw him as “a chosen vessel” and sent him to
the gentiles. By means of the Greek language, the Apostle Paul was able to
capture the great and civilized Greek world of that time for Christ. He put
into the service of God’s Word the power of philosophy and linguistic knowledge
as a means for dialogue, encounter, and communication. Here we may contemplate
the role of knowledge and philosophy.

3- The Apostle Paul possessed a third characteristic, his
Jewish, Hebrew religion. He was one of the Jews of the diaspora. He himself
took pride in being a Pharisee who had studied with Gamaliel.

Here we turn to the question of religion.

On the other hand, we notice a trio of virtues with the Apostle
Peter.

1- Jesus named Peter as a shepherd. When Peter responded in
the affirmative to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?,” Jesus sent him to tend
the sheep. So love is pastoral service. Here we may pause at the question of “shepherding.”

2- Peter confessed to the most important truth. The most
important and defining event in the life of Saint Peter was his startling confession,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This is the truth that the
Lord considered to be the rock upon which His Church would be built.

3- Peter was distinguished by zeal in love. We easily notice
in the texts of the New Testament that Peter always wanted to demonstrate his
zeal for the love of Christ more than the other apostles. This zeal caused him
to promise Jesus that he would follow Him even to death, to cut off the ear of
the high priest’s slave, to immediately cast himself into the Sea of Tiberias
in order to meet Jesus first when He had risen from the dead. So the Apostle Peter
was distinguished by righteous zeal.

Indeed, these two trios complement each other when we combine
each of them. Yes, authority must be pastoral, philosophy true, and religion
burning zeal.

It is true that the true meaning of authority is to shepherd
people. “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be
your servant.And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all” (Mark
10:43-44).

Indeed, true philosophy is Christian truth,
just as true knowledge is found in the Christian faith.

Indeed, “the way” is shepherding in
authority, “The truth” in philosophy, and “the life” in religion. This is what
is symbolized in the image of the embrace of Peter and Paul. That is, authority
with Paul embraces shepherding with Peter. The sciences with Paul meet the
truth with Peter. Finally, religion with Paul is realized in zealous love with
Peter.

The embrace of Peter’s virtues and Paul’s
virtues, when these two worlds are intertwined and the characteristics of each
saint meet, Jesus’ rock is realized in practice: